What We Do

To stand for justice by pursuing the guilty, protecting the innocent, and upholding the
Constitutions of the United States of America and the State of Tennessee.
See Fout v. State, 4 Tenn. 98 (1816)

The Office of the District Attorney General for the 6th Judicial District represents the people of the State of Tennessee in all criminal cases that occur within Knox County. The position of District Attorney General was created by the Tennessee Constitution and provides that each District Attorney shall be elected by the voters within their judicial district and shall serve an eight-year term. The State is divided into thirty-one judicial districts each with judges, district attorneys and public defenders to administer the criminal justice system. Knox County comprises the 6th Judicial District.

The Office is presently organized into three divisions: the Criminal Court Division, the Special Units Division, and the General Sessions Court Division. District Attorneys appear on behalf of the State of Tennessee to prosecute all misdemeanor and felony charges brought in Juvenile Court, the General Sessions Courts, the Grand Jury, and the Criminal Courts of the District. The Office also has units of lawyers (Special Units Division) who have specialized skills and training in such areas as child physical and sexual abuse, complex drug prosecutions, death penalty prosecutions, domestic violence, elder abuse, fraud and economic crime, and vehicular crimes.

In Knox County, most criminal cases are the result of investigations conducted by and arrests made by the Knoxville Police Department, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the University of Tennessee Police Department, or the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for determining whether there is enough evidence to prosecute persons accused of crimes. If not, the charges will be dismissed; otherwise, Assistant District Attorneys appear in the various General Sessions and Criminal Courts where such cases are tried before a judge or a jury or are resolved upon guilty pleas. In addition to courtroom duties, Assistant District Attorneys review citizen complaints about alleged criminal activity, consult with law enforcement agencies about on-going investigations, and provide legal advice to the police.

What is a District Attorney General?

Article VI § 5 of the Tennessee Constitution establishes the Office of the District Attorney and provides that the District Attorney shall be elected by the qualified voters of the district to hold office for 8 years. The Duties of the District Attorney are set out in Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-7-103.

What does a District Attorney General do?

The District Attorney General and his or her staff prosecute all criminal cases on behalf of the citizens of the State of Tennessee.

Who does the District Attorney General work for?

The District Attorney General works for the people of the State of Tennessee and is elected for an eight-year term by the qualified voters of their judicial district.

What District am I in, and who is my District Attorney?

If you reside in Knox County, you are included in the 6th Judicial District, and Charme P. Allen is your District Attorney General. To view other districts, click here.